wings of the city
Presented by Bank of America
W
ings of the City has arrived in Greenville, SC! Get ready to take flight (or book a flight) as this traveling, interactive exhibit is one you do NOT want to miss! For a limited time only (now through October), you have the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the nine bronze sculptures that make up this exhibition—phenomenal pieces of art created by renowned Mexican sculptor, Jorge Marín, and brought here by the Hispanic Alliance of South Carolina and the City of Greenville.
This is the first time EVER that the exhibit is being showcased on the East Coast (it’s never been further east than Houston) and we here in Greenville cannot wait for residents and visitors alike to be captivated by this exhibition, joining thousands of appreciative others before you. This is an amazing honor because #yeahTHATgreenville will join the ranks of Dubai, Singapore, Madrid, Berlin, and Nagoya (Japan) who revered the “Wings of Mexico” sculpture so much that they decided to keep the interactive piece on permanent display. Who knows? Maybe we will too!
Standing for the desire of the body to fly, the exhibit represents the capability of flying with our mind, going beyond one’s physical abilities, and inviting us to transcend our limits. The sculptures celebrate victory, dreams, and the human potential. And even though the figures are corporeal (i.e., they have a body), they are also dynamic and defy gravity as they balance on spheres, alluding to their self-restraint. The original “Wings of the City” exhibit was displayed in front of Mexico City’s National Anthropology Museum, the largest and most visited museum in Mexico.
If you’re already in awe saying, “Holy sculpture, vulture!” we’ve got the 5Ws lowdown on the who, what, where, when, and why, so you can learn even more about this fascinating exhibition.
Here's a sneak peek of what you might see!
April - October 2021
Just like Main Street's nine bronze mice, these nine bronze statues are designed for people to interact with them. The exhibition's large-format pieces range stand between 6.5 ft and 13.5 ft in height and are located in Falls Park on the Reedy and the Peace Center.
We're a bit partial to the "Wings of Mexico" sculpture since you can take one heck of a an awesome photo with it! Selfie, anyone? With the Liberty Bridge as your backdrop, the sky's the limit. (And hey, you don't have to go all the way to Dubai to take it!) Sculptures may set unrealistic body image expectations because they're always so chiseled ⚒️, but we doubt you’ll be disappointed by visiting these. 😉
Show us YOUR photos with the sculptures using hashtags #wingsofgvl and #yeahTHATgreenville on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Falls Park on the Reedy Sculptures
Wings of Mexico
Year Sculpted: 2010
Dimensions: 11.4 x 10.4 x 4.9 ft
Greenville Location: Falls Park on the Reedy, on the other side of the Reedy River near the SC Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities; allows the Liberty Bridge to be the backdrop behind it
Description: These monumental wings allow spectators to become part of the artwork, completing it. They rise as a universal symbol of freedom and hope; as the never-ending and, overall, human dream of flying.
Archivaldo Monumental
Year Sculpted: 2008
Dimensions: 7.8 x 8.5 x 2.6 ft
Greenville Location: Just inside the entrance to Falls Park on the Reedy, off S. Main Street; in-between Mary's at Falls Cottage and Passerelle Bistro on the grass circle
Description: Here, we find the figure of an observer; a being that looks and analyzes from a distance. With a seriousness hidden behind the mask, maybe it is a guardian, a protector that safeguards what, in that orb, might be seen as the world.
El Tiempo
Year Sculpted: 2010
Dimensions: 6 x 7.8 x 5.5 ft
Greenville Location: Just inside the entrance to Falls Park on the Reedy, off S. Main Street; close to the entryway of the Liberty Bridge and Passerelle Bistro
Description: Spanish for "Time", observers of this sculpture are left to wonder whether it is building itself or dissolving by its age. The composition, modeled in Classical proportions, reminds us of archaeological ruins; broken objects that wait for us to tell the story behind them.
Bernardo Oriental
Year Sculpted: 2008
Dimensions: 7.8 x 8.5 x 3.2 ft
Greenville Location: Falls Park on the Reedy, straight down the hill from Mary's at Falls Cottage
Description: Part of a series of winged creatures, this sculpture possesses unique characteristics, such as the position of the body, as if captured at the moment it is about to stand and take flight. Upon its head is an aviator’s hat; the dream of flying materialized into the human condition.
Abrazo Monumental
Year Sculpted: 2006
Dimensions: 7.2 x 6.9 x 2.1 ft
Greenville Location: Falls Park on the Reedy, in the wooded area along the the narrow part of the river, near Arboretum Falls and the stone steps; behind the stage as you head towards Pedrick's Garden
Description: Spanish for "Monumental Hug", this piece represents an intimate moment of absolute compassion and devotion. Two bodies that strive to become one. In this sculpture, a winged man holds a woman who seems to be slipping away, as if he’s witnessing her last breath in a moment of transcendence.
Persélidas Monumental
Year Sculpted: 2009
Dimensions: 8.3 x 8.5 x 2.6 ft
Greenville Location: Falls Park on the Reedy, close to the stage (where the Upstate Shakespeare Festival, Moonlight Movies, and more are held)
Description: The name of this sculpture reminds us of the Perseidas, an annual meteor shower named for the constellation Perseus. In this winged being, we might find the delicacy of those meteors, symbolizing a union between heaven and earth, the divine and the human.
Peace Center Sculptures
Split Monumental
Year Sculpted: 2002
Dimensions: 4.2 x 6.5 x 1.7 ft
Greenville Location: Corner of W. Broad and S. Main Streets at the Peace Center's Graham Plaza
Description: The body in this sculpture, which represents the capabilities of a man, reminds us of Classical figures. A showcase of strength, flexibility, and desires is projected in an anonymous being hiding behind a mask, giving us the chance to mirror ourselves in it.
Hombre Universal
Year Sculpted: 2002
Dimensions: 7.3 x 7.0 x 1.8 ft
Greenville Location: Inside the Peace Center lobby
Description: This "Universal Man" is enclosed by two circles, reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. A human center in complete awareness of the beautiful and intricate machine of his body. The anatomical perfection of this sculpture reflects the influence of the Renaissance and Classical Art in Marín’s work.
Equilibrista 90
Year Sculpted: 2005
Dimensions: 3.9 x 1.5 x 4.2 ft
Greenville Location: Corner of W. Broad and S. Main Streets at the Peace Center's Graham Plaza
Description: Able to perform actions and movements that seem impossible, this sculpture symbolizes the perfection of the human body. The mask invites us to project ourselves onto it as it reminds us of the coexistence between humans and their environment.
The City of Greenville has put together a digital self-guided walking tour of these nine sculptures, located at Falls Park on the Reedy, inside the Peace Center, and on the Peace Center's Graham Plaza. Information about each statue is included in the walking tour, which is available below in both Spanish and English. Additionally, the sculptures each have plaques placed on them and QR codes are located nearby to quickly be able to attain statue information in-person.
Born in 1963 in Urupuan, Mexico, Jorge Marín is one of the most well-known figurative artists in Mexico. He began sculpting in the 1980s primarily in ceramics, but over time, bronze became his preferred sculpting material. Marín has participated in more than 300 exhibitions, and his work has been featured in galleries and museums across North and Central America, Europe, and Asia.
Jorge Marín's art is capable of penetrating the daily life of the humans and transforming it into unique moments. His sculptures change the urban landscape and transmit and tell personal and collective stories. An aesthetic experience where the perfection of the human body is mixed, in balance, with allegorical forms and fantastic beings. Jorge Marín is a maker of winged beings, rafts, animals, and how much it serves to rise consciousness through art, to promote reflection about our societies. Beyond the symbolism of his art, his pieces forge a connection with the public, creating a relation based on the certainty and the hope produced by his symbols.
“Art is an indispensable tool to generate more reflective and peaceful societies.” - Jorge Marín
The opportunity to bring "Wings of the City" to the East Coast (for the first time) was presented by the General Consulate of Mexico in Raleigh, NC. It was an easy sell.
"We are thrilled to welcome this magnificent collection to South Carolina and invite the public to enjoy the work of one of Mexico's most prominent cultural ambassadors." -General Consul, Claudia Velasco Osorio
After hearing more about this incredible opportunity, the Hispanic Alliance of SC, the City of Greenville (and its associated Arts in Public Places Commission), and the Jorge Marín Foundation collaborated to make the idea become a reality. According to Adela Mendoza, Executive Director of the Hispanic Alliance SC, the collection promotes a community-wide dialogue and offers a bridge to Mexican culture.
"'Wings of the City" highlights the importance of migration and the cultural exchange that enriches societies. This world-class exhibit celebrates the global spirit of the Upstate — symbolizing human connection across distance, and the role of art as a universal language." -Adela Mendoza
In 2013, the traveling "Wings of the City" installation began its journey through the United States, with stops in Texas (Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Brownsville & Houston), Colorado (Denver), and California (Anaheim, Santa Ana & Sacramento). Greenville, SC is the lucky host for 2021!
